In this interview we chat with Jake Dyer, a 22-year old third year apprentice training at WesTrac South Guildford.
I was working two jobs, one of which was for Australia's leading retailer for photography equipment and the other was fitting parts.
To put it simply, I wanted more. I wanted a better foundation for a long career. It wasn't enough for me to be a parts fitter onsite, I wanted to know the ins and outs of a trade, not just the bare minimum. Not that there's anything wrong with fittings parts, for me I'm just focused on what I want to be doing ten years from now and I knew an apprenticeship would get me there.
I'm looking forward to the program ending and the knowledge that I'll be a fully qualified tradesman at that point. I'm looking forward to that feeling of accomplishment and the start of what will be a long career in this industry.
Learning all the complex machine specifications has been both interesting and challenging. I've also enjoyed learning about customer requirements and understanding that each customer wants a different piece of equipment depending on their application, project and industry. It's also been great to understand why Cat equipment is the best in the world and what makes its superior to competing brands. Nothing beats knowing that we're delivering the customer a high quality product that will get the job done!
During my time I've noticed that anyone is willing to help if I'm stuck on a task or I'm having difficulty understanding something. My team members are also proactive in lending a hand and always offering support, without me being forced to ask. It feels good knowing they've got my back.
Head down, bum up. And don't be afraid to ask questions! Learn as much as you can and take full advantage of your time as a WesTrac apprentice.
